Heat exchange unit for refrigeration



July 10, 1951 Filed Feb. 9, 1946 H. w. KLElsT -HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT EdR REERIGERATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July l0, 1951 H.'w. KLElsT HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1946 lil-lll` l l l l ll Ll. I I l l l I l Il IIIIWIIIIIIIIlL l l l I I l l l II l I l l I lllllllllllllllnuu l'zvenar Herman )f/Ze S @y km July l0, 1951 H. w. KLEls'r i HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT FOR REFRIQERATION Filed Feb. 9, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qa/JQ July 1o, 1951` Filed Feb. 9, 1946A H. W. KLEIST HEAT XCE-'IANGE UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 10, 1951 HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION Herman W. Kleist, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Dole Refrigerating Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 9, 1946, Serial No. 646,558

This invention relates to heat exchange devices or units, and has for one purpose to provide a heat exchange or refrigerating unit particularly adapted for cooling a current or circulation of a fiuid or gas, such as air.

Another purpose is to provide a heat exchange unit which may be partly or wholly preassembled and which, when preassembled, includes a plurality of parallel plane faced plates and means for securing them in relation to each other at a proper distance to permit the passage through the plates of the liquid or gas being cooled.

Another purpose is to provide an eflicient heat exchange means utilizable in refrigeration and for example, in refrigerating cars.

Another purpose is to provide a unit which may be advantageously used in connection with air conditioning.

Another purpose is to provide a unit with which fluid moving means, such as a fan, may be directly associated.

Another purpose is to provide a unit of refrigerating plates in which there is a minimum tendency for the formation of frost, and in which the circulated medium to be cooled, which flows between the plates, is eiective to reduce the retention of frost on the plate surfaces.

Another purpose is to provide a battery of plane faced refrigerating plates, secured together in suitable spaced relationship, and adapted for installation as a unit.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No.,

482,097, filed in the U. S. Patent Ofiice on April 7, 1943, which issued on November 5, 1946 as Patent No. 2,410,449, for refrigerator cars.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatically in the attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section illustrating my invention as applied to a system of air ducts which may be employed, for example, -in refrigerating the interior of a freight car, section being taken on the line I I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an interrupted section on the staggered line 3 3 of Figure 1;

3 Claims. (Cl. 62-129) Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the entire system;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a variant form of my invention; and

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Like symbols refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

The present drawings of Figures 1 to Gareidentical with Figures 4 to 9 inclusive of said copending application Serial No. 482,097, in which my invention was applied to the refrigeration of a freight car. Since the freight car as such does not form part of the present invention, its details have been omitted from the present drawings. It will be understood, however, that I may employ any suitable system of ducts, including duct I, effective to supply the air or fluid to be cooled. 2 indicates any suitable housing in which the heat exchange member is positioned. The housing may have a cool air outlet 3 through which the air or other medium to be treated may pass after the desired heat exchange has taken place. The heat exchange unit proper is shown as enclosing between upper and lower inclined walls 8 and 9, the side walls 'I being effective to complete the closure of the space.

Mounted within this enclosing device are a series of cooling elements which are preferably plates, each made up of two sheets II and I2 of heat conducting material with a space between them in which the refrigerant material is located so as to cool the fplates. These plates have smooth exterior surfaces. I prefer to use vacuum plates each with a pipe I3 coiled back and forth in the space between the sheets, shown in detail in Figures 3, 4 and 5. These sheets are connected together with a hermetically sealed connection so as to be airtight. Each sheet I I is provided with a bent-over edge I4 which has a sealed connection to the sheet I2, and each sheet I2 has a projecting part I5 which projects outwardly from the bent portion I4 at least at two opposite extremities although it may project outwardly all the way around the sheet, The bentover edge I4 may be hermetically fastened to the asaogalsaA Y' Means are provided for withdrawing 'air from the interior of vtheplates I0.' One arrangement for this purpose is shown in Figure 5 wherein there.l

is' a plug I1 which projects through an opening inthe bent-over portion VI4 and which is provided with arropening extendingall `the way through, the'opening being arranged in two siections.- ay section I8 of comparatively small-diameter and a section I9 of larger diameter. There is a valve 20 in the section I8. An air withdrawing device is attached to the portion of Y the plug projecting from the plate and the desired amount of air is withdrawn. During this process the valve 20 moves away from its seat 2|. When the withdrawal of air ceases this valve is moved onto its seat by the pressure of exterior air. A closing member 22 is then insertedV into the plug and may be sealed by welding or soldering or in any other desired manner. The plates may preferably contain a suitable eutectic 23 so as to make them hold-over plates. This eutectic does not completely ll the plates as a space is left from which air is withdrawn and which permits the eutectic to expand when frozen. The withdrawing of air from the space between the sheets of the plates causes the outside atmosphere to tightly press the sheets against the pipe I3 so as to secure a tight heat exchange contact between the sheets II and I2 and the pipe I3. When the hold-over plate is used this eutectic is frozen and acts as a cooling agent for a considerable time after the refrigerant material has ceased to flow through the pipe I3. The plates Il may be supported and arranged in the enclosing device at the end of the car in any suitable manner. These plates may be arranged in a horizontal or vertical position and may be parallel to the roof of the car or inclined with relation thereto.

In Figures l to 4 I have shown one particular way of arranging and supporting these plates I0. In this construction the plates are shown with their flat faces extending in a generally horizontal direction, the plates, however, being inclined with their edges nearest the cool air outlet higher at their opposite edges. There are a series of supporting members 24 which are provided with Va series of notches 25. The projecting edges I of the plates fit into these notches, as clearly shown in Figure 4. Fastening devices 26 pass through the supporting devices 24 and bind them together so as to hold the plates rigidly in position. 'I'hese fastening devices 26 pass through the supporting devices 24 and bind them together so as to hold the plates rigidly in position. These fastening devices may be of any suitable form, and as herein shown consist of rods threaded at their ends with nuts 21 on the threaded ends which are tightened up to bind the plates in position.

The supporting devices are fastened to the fastening members 28 by means of the threaded rods 26 and nuts 21. The fastening members 28 at one end of the set of plates are fastened in position by the bolts 28 and the nuts 30. Fastening members 28 at the opposite end are secured by bolts 60 to the angle supports 6I connected with the ceiling 62 of the car. Associated with the plates I0 are one or more air-moving devices 3l. These air-moving devices are placed in front of the plates, and instead of forcing the air between the plates, they draw the air through such plates. These air-moving devices are actuated by the motors 32, suitably mounted in position which the airisi-passed. The present arrangment mayadva'ntageously be used in'coolingf upn the supports 33 and 34, which arefattachedn to the frame ,35. There is preferably a screen.

in fronty ofthe .air-moving devices 3|, 4through freight cars or rooms l,of lsubstantial content,"with the unitlocated'adjacentthe ceiling, or havingm a' cool .air discharge outlet adjacent the ceiling.

The air is cooled by being drawn in between these several plates and in contact therewith, and is then forced outwardly and into contact with the ceiling and thus is distributed throughout the car. The fact that the plates I0 are inclined, as shown in Figure 1, assists greatly in having this air move upwardly into contact with the ceiling. Some suitable means is provided for supplying the plates I0 with a suitable refrigerant and passing it through the coils I3. As herein shown, there is a refrigerating apparatus provided with the compressor 31, with some suitable motor for operating it, such as the motor 38, which may be a Diesel engine. Compressor 31 is connected with the condenser 38 and the receiver 46.

A connection 4I leads from the receiver 48 to a heat exchanger 42 (see Figure 6). This heat exchanger is connected by a pipe 43 with a strainer 44. 'Ihe strainer is connected by a pipe 45 with an expansion valve 46. A series of pipes 41 connect the expansion valve with the several plates I0, and by this means a more uniform temperature is secured in all of the plates. The refrigerant then passes through the coils in these plates and passes out of the plates through the connections 48 to the common pipe or header 49. This header is connected by a pipe 50 with the heat exchanger 42 (see Figure 6). A pipe 5I leads from the heat exchanger back to the compressor. Connected with the pipe 5I is a T 52 in which is located a bulb 53. 'Ihis bulb controls, that is. opens and closes, the expansion valve by the usual means consisting of the pipe 54. When the refrigerant returning from the plates III rises above a certain temperature, this bulb causes the expansion valve to open and admit the refrigerant to the coils in the plates I0, and when the temperature of this refrigerant falls below a certain predetermined temperature, the bulb causes the expansion valve to close and shut olf the refrigerant from the coils in the plates I8. It will thus be seen that the temperature in the room is automatically controlled.

As before stated, the cooled air is preferably thrown up against the ceiling and is then defiected and distributed throughout the room. The air-moving devices may be arranged at different angles so as to cause the cooled air to strike the ceiling of the room at diiferent points therealong and be deflected to secure a more uniform cooling throughout the room. This cooled air, after absorbing heat from the articles to be cooled in the room, passes into the duct I and the suction of the air-moving devices moves this air up through the passageway I and again into contact with the plates I0 Where it is cooled and sent back into the room.

At 42 in Figure 6, I illustrate any suitable heat exchanger including an outer housing 42 surrounding the refrigerant coil 58. The refrigerant passing through the pipe 4I passes through the coil 58 within the heat exchanger casing 42, and thence to the strainer. The refrigerant returning from the header 49 passes through the casing 42 in contact with the exterior of the coil 58, So that there is a transfer of heat between the refrigerant in the coil 56 and the refrigerant on the exterior of the coil.

The motor, compressor and condenser may be located in any desired point. I prefer, however, to have them located in a casing connected to the exterior of the bottom of the car.

The frame 35 upon which the motor 32 and the fan 3| are mounted is preferably hinged as shown in Figure 1, so that it can be moved to expose the motor anldfan for inspection and repair. If desired, the pin of the hinge may be removed so that the entire member 35, together with the motor and the fan, may be removed to the shop for repair or replaced by a new one.

`the group of plates, providing a top plenum chamber from which air may be exhausted through the side wall aperture 64, aligned with the fan 3| and the fan motor 32. The lower end of the housing 63 may be provided with any suitable air inlet, or may be left open. In either event, it is preferably upwardly spaced from the floor or supporting surface, for example, by the legs or supports 65. It will be clear from Figure 8 that the plates I0, taken in conjunction with the housing 63 and the housing end walls 66. defining a series of flat, parallel, shallow air cooling passages through which air is simultaneously moved, and in the same direction. As a matter of convenience, I illustrate the fan 3| as withdrawing cold air from the plenum chamber. However, the fan can be placed at any other convenient location, or any other suitable means may be employed for causing the air undergoing cooling to flow between the plates I0.

It will be realized that, whereas, I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows. When the parts are assembled and it is desired to cool the interior of the room, the motor is set in operation and the refrigerant is -forced by the compressor 31 through the conheat exchanger 42 in contact with the coil therein, and thence by pipe 5| back to the compressor. This causes the plates I0 to be cooled and the air-moving devices 3| actuated by the motors 32 draw the air through the spaces between the plates l0. This air is cooled by the plates and the cooled air is then directed into the interior of the room. This cooled air is distributed throughout the interior of the room and absorbs heat from the material therein which is to be cooled, and eventually returns through the passageway to contact again the plates I0.

I have shown one means of controlling the temperature in the room by means of the bulb E3 and the expansion valve 46. When a Diesel engine, for example, is used, the temperature may be controlled by starting and stopping the Diesel engine automatically responsive to the temperature in the interior of the room. Any of the Diesel engine automatic control means produced by any of the Diesel engine companies may be used for this purpose. With such a controlling device the temperature controlled element is placed at a suitable position, and when the temperature in the room falls below a predetermined point the engine is automatically shut off, and when the temperature in the room rises above a predetermined point, the engine is automatically started. It is, of course, evident that an electric motor or any other form of motor may be used. The particular type or form of motor may be changed or altered to suit the conditions presented.

In the form of Figures 7 and 8, I illustrate a unit which may be used to cool any room or space, and which takes the air to be cooled directly from the bottom of the space, cools it, and returns it to the space at a higher level. However, it will be realized that I may employ any suitable duct system or combination air ducts, the essential feature of my invention being the employment of parallel plane surfaced cooling members which define preferably shallow passages of generally uniform thickness between plates, with a substantial elimination of eddy currents.

I claim:

1. In' a heat exchange unit, an air directing 2. In a heat exchange unit adapted for coolingA spaces such as refrigerator car interiors, a plurality of refrigerating plates and means for passing a volatile refrigerant therethrough, each plate having opposite, generally parallel plane, unbroken faces, means for supporting said plates in generally parallel planes in spaced relationship, with the plane faces of adjacent plates separated by relatively shallow, unbroken air conduit spaces, with substantially uniform clearance from edge to edge of the plates, and housing means adapted to close the opposite sides of said air conduit spaces, the means for passing the refrigerant through the plates including an expansion valve and parallel, individual connections from said expansion valve to a plurality of plates.

3. In a heat exchange unit adapted for cooling spaces such as refrigerator car interiors, a plurality of refrigerating plates and means for passing a volatile refrigerant therethrough, each plate having opposite, generally parallel plane, unbroken faces, means for supporting said plates 7, in generally parallel planes separated by rela.- tively shallow, unbroken air conduit spaces, with substantially uniform clearance from edge to edge of the plates, and housing means adapted to close the opposite sides oi' said air conduit 5 spaces, the 'means for passing the refrigerant through the plates including an expansion valve and parallel, individual connections from Said expansion valve to a plurality of plates and a return manifold to which the plates are conl0' nected in parallel.

HERMAN W. HEIST.

` Number 8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS 

